Georgia: Columbia County: David Harris Will, 7 August 1807 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Pattie Causey pacausey@mindspring.com ==================================================================== In the name of God Amen. I, David, Harris, of the Stae of Georgia and County of Columbia being of sound mind & disposing memory thanks be to Almighty God, knowing it is ordained that all men must die and feeling a desire that the property it hathe pleased God to bless me with in this life be disposed of in the following manner, to wit: It is first my desire that my just debts be paid as soon as convenient and that my son, John Harris, is hereby nominated sole executor to this my last will and testament. I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Mary Harris the plantation & improvements of every kind to wit, negroes, stock of every kind, houehold & kitchen furniture and every other article of property I may die possessed of during her natural life or widowhood under the direction and inspection of said executor so that she have a sufficient maintenance . The balance after paying debts to go to said John Harris. My will and desire is that my Grandson, David Harris, son of John Harris, when he may arrive at lawful age, he have one negro boy named Phil in case of said David's death before he arrive at age then said negro boy Phil to enjoyed by my son John Harris forever. My desire is that my Grandson, Williamson Spiers, have one feather bed & furniture out of my estate when he may arrive at age. In case of his death before he may arrive at agen then the legacy to go to his sister, Druscilla, which is in their possession. My will is that my son, Edward Harris, have one certificate for Six hundred forty acres of land due from the State of Georgia to Z. Franklin and as I have given Benjamin Bledsoe the husband of my daughter Sarah as also Samuel Bowdre the husband of my daughter Polly who have received ample proportions out of my estatte, no further is given to them. In case that my wife may marry again on said marriage my estate will pay over to her during life my negro woman Candance a resonable part of houehold & kitchen furniture stock of every kind not exceeding one half of my personal estate to revert to my son John harris, his heirs at the death of his Mother and at her marriage said John, his heirs to receive & enjoy all the reamining part of my estate . My will is that Richmond Bledsoe my Grandson have one feather bed & furniture whenever he may arrive at age & in case of his death before age the legacy to to to Giles Harris his brother. IN witness whereof I the said David Harris have here unto set my hand and seal this 7th day of August 1807. Witnesses names Wm. Colvard Levi Pearce Josua Vaughn D. Harris Georgia} Columbia County} William Colvard, Levi Pearch and Joshua Vaughn the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing instrument of writing personally appeared in open court and made oath that they saw David Harris, deceased, sing the within instrument and publish the same as his last will & testament & appeared at the signature thereof to be of sound mind and disposing memory and at the request of testator, subscribed as witnesses thereto/ Wm. Colvard Levi Pearce Josuaway Vaughn Sworn to in open court this 4th Jan. 1808 A. Crawford, clerk Ordinary Office registered in book H folio 127, 128, 129, 6 Jan. 1808 A. Crawford, Clerk Georgia} Columbia County} I, John Harris, do solemnly swear that the writing produced and herewith shewn is the last will and testament of David harris, deceased so far as I know or believe and that I will will and truly execute the same by paying first the debts and then the legacies contained in the said will as far as the goods, chattels will thereunto extend and the law charges you with and that you will make a true and perfect inventory of such goods and chattels. John Harris Sworn to in open court this 4th Jan. 1808 A. Crawford, Clerk ****************************** PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING PAPERS WERE ALSO IN THE DAVID HARRIS FOLDER AT THE GEORGIA STATE ARCHIVES IN THE LOOSE PAPERS SECTION OF THE ARCHIVES. THE DATES ON THE FOLLOWING PAPERS (1802/1803) ARE SEVERAL YEARS EARLIER THAN THE DATE OF THE DAVID HARRIS WILL (1807). THE EARLIER RECORDS MAY BE FOR DAVID HARRIS JUNIOR AND THE LATER FOR DAVID HARRIS SENIOR. 24th March 1803 a list of the property of David Harris, deceased. One box carpenters tools consisting of plains, saws, chisels, squares to be appraised to be worth $20.00 One trunk $4.00 One small D??? $1.00 One lot waring apparril, one book & shaving box $50.00 One med. pocket books $1.00 Total $75.00 We certify the above to be a true inventory and appraisement of all the personal estate of David harris, deceased as shewn us by John Harris & by us appraised this 24th March 1803. B. Blefdsoe Wm. Colvard Levi Pearce Georgia} Columbia County} These will certify that the foregoing contains a full statement of the personal property of David Harris junior decd. & was recorded from the appraisers. John Harris, adm. Georgia} Columbia County} Ordinary Office registered in Book B folio 177 this 31st March 1803 by A. Crawford, Clerk ***************** GEORGIA By the Court of Ordinary for the County of Columbia. To Benjamin Bledsoe, Levi Pearce, Wm. Colbert, Thos. J. Flint, John Allen These are to authorize you or any three or you to repair to all fuch parts and places as you shall be directed unto by John Harris administrator of all fingular, the goods, chattels, rights and credits of DAvid Harris, deceafed, wherefoever any of the goods and chattels of the faid deceafed are or do remain within the faid parts and places and which fhall be fhewn unto you by the faid John Harris and there view and appraife all and every the faid goods and chattels, being firft fworn on the holy Evangelifts of Almighty God, to make a true and perfect inventory and appraifement thereof, and to caufe the fame to be returned under your hands or any three or more of you to the faid John harris administrator within three months from the date hereof. WITNESS the Hon. John Foster one of the Juftices of the faid Court, this 21st day of Dec. 1802 and in the twentyseventh year of American Independence. J. Foster Test. A. Crawford, Clerk Georgia} Columbia County} You, Benjamin Beldsoe, Levi Pearce and William Colvard do swear that you will make a just & true appraisment of all and singular the goods & chattels (ready money excepted) of DAvid harris, deceased, as shall be produced to you by John Harris, administrator of the estate of the said deceased and that you will return the same certified under your hands unto the said John harris within the time prescrived by law. B. Bledsoe Levi Pearce W. Colvard Sworn to and subscribed before me this 24th March 1803 ???Wilkins, jp